RUS – Kirilenko – No cast-iron guarantee for USA to win world title

SALT LAKE CITY (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Take it from upset specialist Andre Kirilenko.

Anything can happen at a FIBA World Championship.

The favorites heading into big international events are not always the winners.

Such was the case at EuroBasket 2007 in Madrid when Kirilenko’s Russia made a stunning run to the title game and upset hosts Spain, and such was the case the year before when Greece shocked the United States in the FIBA World Championship Semi-Finals in Japan.

“You know, it is a game,” said Kirilenko, when asked about Russia’s chances if they were to face Olympic champions Team USA, a side that will be gunning to win the world title next year in Turkey for the first time since 1994.

“Every night is different and it could be a different game.

“One night, somebody can feel bad, shots don’t go in so anybody can win.”

Having captured gold at the Beijing Games to qualify for Turkey, the United States are loaded with NBA All-Stars like Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.

Though LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have yet to commit to national team duty next summer, the Americans will remain the team to beat.

“They are going to come out and play strong,” Kirilenko said. “But when you play in a system (tournament) like this, one game can kick you out. It is pretty hard to be concentrated for every game.”

Looking at the contenders, Kirilenko said: “It is definitely the USA that has the most chances because their team is a complete team. Every position is strong, the bench is strong. So they are a very solid team.

“Probably, Spain are going to be the main contender. (Pau) Gasol, (Juan Carlos) Navarro, Rudy Fernandez - you know, those guys have been great for the last few years. The Russia team, Turkish team, Greek team, we do not call ourselves underdogs but you know it is kind of in the middle.

“So, as I said, so one day is good for us and a bad day for contenders, (then) we can beat them. But we have to be 100%.”

Kirilenko and Russia have to get a more important result this weekend when the FIBA central board convene in Istanbul.

They must be one of four wild-card recipients in order to even take part in the FIBA World Championship.

The Russians narrowly missed on out on qualifying for the event at the EuroBasket in Poland.

Kirilenko wasn’t able to play as he and his wife were in the process of adopting a baby in Russia, and the team’s other big stars, Viktor Khryapa (injury) and JR Holden (rest), also missed out.

“I think we have a great chance,” Kirilenko said, “especially as have finished seventh at EuroBasket 2009.

“The sixth-place team is going to the World Championship, and seventh is Russia. We were European champions in 2007, so I think we have pretty good chances.”

For those fans and players travelling to Turkey for the first time, Kirilenko says the country is a wonderful place to visit.

“I’ve been in Turkey many, many times,” he said.

“You know, Turkey is one of the favorite holiday countries for Russians.

“But this time, you don’t go for a vacation. You go to play basketball.

“So I don’t think the teams will have much time for vacation.

“If you do want to go somewhere, definitely the Bosphorus Bridge (one of the two bridges in Istanbul, Turkey, spanning the Bosphorus strait and thus connecting Europe and Asia), and the Bosphorus are very good and you can have a good time."

FIBA